Rough seas hamper salvage of cargo ship

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This article was published 13/10/2011 (5130 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAURANGA, New Zealand — A cargo ship that has spilled hundreds of tons of oil since striking a reef off New Zealand’s coast appeared to be breaking up in heavy seas, as its captain faced criminal charges in court Wednesday.

A vertical crack was apparent from the deck to the waterline of the Liberian-flagged Rena, which ran aground Oct. 5 on Astrolabe Reef, 22 kilometres from Tauranga Harbour on New Zealand’s North Island. About 70 containers have fallen off the deck of the 236-meter vessel as it has listed increasingly in the worsening ocean conditions.

Maritime New Zealand, which is managing the emergency response, described the crack as a “substantial structural failure” and warned that the stern may break away. Three tug boats were mobilized to hold the stern on the reef while efforts are made to remove the oil from the ship.

Weather on the reef was terrible Wednesday, with swells up to 5 metres, Maritime New Zealand spokesman Steve Jones said. The brutal conditions were making it impossible for a salvage crew to board the ship, he said. Without the crew aboard, oil cannot be pumped out of the ship.

“It’s appalling,” Jones said of the weather. “Everything is still in a holding pattern.”

Forecasters were predicting the swells would ease to 2 metres by today, at which point salvage crews might be able to try to board the ship, Jones said.

The unnamed Filipino captain, 44, was charged with operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk and was released on bail Wednesday at Tauranga District Court. The ship’s second officer is to face a similar charge today.

If convicted, the captain could face a fine of up to 10,000 New Zealand dollars ($7,800) and 12 months in prison. His next court appearance is Oct. 19, when authorities say more charges are likely.

 

— The Associated Press